Taormina Sicily Unfiltered: Crowds, Prices & Reality

 How to enjoy the Sicilian pearl without going crazy with the crowds and prices? 👇

It's been about a month since my partner and I traveled to Taormina, Sicily. Italy is a beautiful destination, especially if you can see it from the comfort of a cozy penthouse apartment. I love Sicily so much. Sunshine and clean beaches. But what is the reality, and how does tourism manifest itself in Sicily? I'm lucky that when I fly to Sicily, I'm not there as a classic tourist, but rather, I get to know this beautiful island from the perspective of a resident. However, I've noticed that the "reality" presented on social media looks a little different than the real thing when you're actually there.

Come with me to see how it actually works in Sicily. First destination? Dreamy Taormina.

Taormina is one of the most beautiful places in Italy, and its iconic beach, Isola Bella, is considered one of Europe's most beautiful coastal gems. That is why it is one of the most sought-after places for tourists in Sicily. Technically speaking, we can say that Taormina lives mainly from tourism today.

But what is the reality when you want to visit the beautiful and dreamy Taormina as a tourist? What really awaits you if I don't deal with the classic, iconic beach that you will then want to post on Instagram?

Arrival logistics - Parking Taormina

This is a challenge only for the hardened. Taormina is a city built on a rock. So a car is a piece of cake. If you drive to Taormina, there is practically nowhere to park by car. Parking zones are only for residents, and there is also very little space everywhere, because the streets are very narrow. If you have a rental car, leave it in the parking garage, from which the cable car goes up to the city. You can't park anywhere up in the city. Moreover, there are crowds of tourists everywhere, so it is difficult to get around by car. My partner and I drove up to where I needed to go to the bathroom, and because there was no place to park, it was quite an unpleasant situation. Cars drive in heavy traffic, so it is not even possible to stop for a moment. If I got out, he would have to continue with the car. We finally resolved the situation, but in the future, I know that if we drove out, I would have to go "down" to the toilet. 🤭 Moreover, if you drive out and accidentally enter the ZTL zone, you can still get a fine even a year later. The local traffic authorities take parking and entry really seriously. That's why it's best to leave your car in the parking garage and take the cable car or shuttle bus up. It seemed expensive to us personally, but if we knew we would be up in Taormina for a really long time, we would definitely choose this route, buy parking, and, despite the higher cost, see here, because we would be sure of quiet parking.

When we were in Taormina, we managed to park for a while at a beautiful viewpoint. (I hope we don't get a fine) 😜. It's such a beautiful view. It's very hot in Sicily during the summer. From June to August, temperatures are around 29–35 °C. If the wind starts blowing from the Sahara, it can easily reach 40 °C. So if you're going to hunt for nice photos, definitely bring comfortable, airy clothes, a hat, and a bottle of water.

Taormina city

Taormina is a beautiful place. When you go there, you will really love it. Personally, I was completely captivated by this place. When we arrived in the city, and my partner and I were on the lookout, it was an incredibly beautiful feeling.  I still remember how the wind blew my hair everywhere, and it was impossible to take a decent photo, and then we laughed about it together. (I am talking about making photos from this amazing view. Or how crazy the road up is when you finally decide to drive around Taormina. 😊 Taormina has its own charm and definitely has something to offer even when it is crowded with tourists at first glance.

Everyone who travels here or is going to, you will want to see the city on the rock (the upper part of Taormina) and the lower part, where the beautiful beach and the main street are. These are also the main tourist destinations. So you should be patient, because crowds really await you. If you manage to arrive in Taormina by the end of May, you will miss the main tourist peak and will have the opportunity to enjoy more space both in Corso Umberto and on Isola Bella beach. Since June, crowds of tourists have been pouring in here, wanting photos, souvenirs, and experiences. If you want space even during this peak period, I recommend visiting the places early in the morning or late in the evening.

Isola Bella beach

How to get to Taormina beach cross crowds and survive?

This is a gem of Sicily. I myself gasped when I first saw the beach. Beautiful blue, clear water. Beautiful nooks and crannies.... Now for a bit of reality.... The beach itself is truly beautiful. But it is a rocky beach. So don't expect fine Saharan sand. Those who have sea shoes will come in handy here. If you don't have shoes, you have to consider entering the sea through this beach as part of your personal development. As for the beach layout, the public area is relatively small. If you want a nice selfie or even a swim, I recommend the early morning hours, when you can find a place on the beach. The rest of the beach is under various beach clubs, which are not even worth visiting in one visit.

The beach itself is beautiful. If you manage to visit before May, you have a chance to take nice photos even during the day, and the water is also acceptable. 🥰

Personally, I thought that even in May, there were quite a few people there, but it was still quite bearable. But very close to Isola Bella, you can visit an amazing beach with fine sand that you will love. You don't need to have shoes. You can park the car 10 minutes from there, and there is enough space for everyone with a beautiful view. 

Corso Umberto

We didn't make it at all. 😅 I'll write about this place next time, because I'm definitely flying to Sicily again soon.
We walked the beaches. We wanted to relax. It was hot, and we just wanted to walk. We took a beautiful walk along the Giardini Naxos waterfront, which is right next door and has a completely different, calmer atmosphere.

But let's get back to Taormina. We've dealt with logistics, nice places, but we haven't talked about food yet. As I mentioned, you can't park your car in Taormina. You have to leave everything in the parking garage. Some people leave their cars nearby in the parking lots and then walk. But that's quite uncomfortable in the heat. When you get to Taormina, you'll get hungry after a while. Where and how to find it? Well, the reality is that in Taormina, which is built on year-round tourism, food is priced higher than in other places. So if you are a larger family or a group of friends and want to eat in Taormina, prepare your wallet.
Personally, my partner and I decided we would rather eat in peace in Giardini Naxos, where prices are approximately 30-40% cheaper. I found the prices quite harsh.
In the end, we ate at a small, cozy restaurant where the owners collected caps from all over the world. 🙂 It was a very nice place, and it was their tiny, local, cozy restaurant. But about Giardini Naxos in the next article, let's not mix things up, right?
So, back to eating in Taormina, if you are not hungry, wait until the next town, if you do not want to overpay unnecessarily. If you are looking for a nice experience and a photo for Instagram, you will find many beautiful restaurants in the upper part of Taormina. You can eat well practically anywhere. Italians are really exclusive in their cuisine. If you have any questions about this place, do not hesitate to ask. Until then, have a great time.

See you
Dana